Baffle system in space or wall heater



Nov. 11, 1958 v c. L.. RUHL I 2,859,742

BAFELE SYSTEM 1N SPACE 0R WALL HEATER Filed May 28, 1956 United States Patent O 2,859,742 BAEELE SYSTEM 1N sPAcEoR WALL HEATER charles L, Ruhr, Dallas, Tex. i Application May 28, 1956, Serial No. 587,780

l 3 claims. (Cl. 126-92) This invention relates to space heaters and more particularly to gas lfueled heaters adapted; for installation in walls.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a circulating heater designed withA a view to moving the air rapidly into the space to be heated and uniformly` distributing the heated air as it emerges from the heater while at the same time maintaining the face plate and surrounding frame of the heater cool to the touch without the necessity for the use' of insulating material between the heater proper and its housing.

Another object of the invention is to produce, by virtue of a plurality of llues and baffles, suitably spaced, a siphoning eect on the primary air which enters the heater at the front and which corningles with the Secondary air as it rises through the radiant which latter, in the present case, is designed to be effective in increasing the upward draft of air, aided by the particular construction of the llues and balles and their relative locations.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds when considered with the annexed drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a wall heater embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken'on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference numeral denotes the outer shell or housing of the wall heater whose depth is calculated to equal the thickness of the studs of a wall so that it can be counter-sunk into the wall with the side ilanges 11 flush with the exterior surface thereof. A suitable face plate, not shown, is secured to the llanges 11.

Within the shell 10 is mounted a lloating casing, generally indicated by reference numeral 12 and is composed of a rear plate 13 which is a mounting plate for the lloating casing and a baille and when combined with a baille 14 between the rear wall 15 of the shell 10, a flue 16 is formed. The upper portions 17 and 1S of the rear plate 13 and baille 14, respectively, arerforwardly curved along corresponding radii into a horizontal plane so that the llue 16 dened thereby will open at the front of the heater.

Disposed below the horizontal portions 19 and 20 of the plate 13 and baille 14, respectively, are supplemental consecutive ballles 21, 22, 23 which become progressively shorter from the topmost to the lowermost baille. The baille 21 defines, with the baille 14, a llue 24; baffles 21 and 22 dellne a lower flue 25 and baffles 22 and 23 define the lowest ilue 26. The ballles 21, 22 and 23 are attached at their ends to the inner side plates 27 and 28 of the lloating casing by down-turned llanges 29, 30 and 31, respectively (Fig. 3).

Below the lowest baille 23 is mounted an oblique baille plate 32, inclined to the vertical, whose lower edge a is located approximately midway between the top and 2,859,742 Patented Nov. 11, 1958 ICC bottom of the shell 10 and whose upper edge b terminates short of the inner edge of the lowest baille 23 to dene a transverse opening 33 at this point. The oblique baille 32has end ilanges 34 which are secured by suitable means to the inner side plates 27 and 28 of the lloating casing. Further reference to the baille 32 and the companion bailles will be made presently.

The lloating casing referred to above includes the outer side plates 35 and 36 which are joined to the baille 14 and` extend below the same, in parallelism with the inner side plates 27 and 28 between these plates and the sides of the shell or housing 10. In this manner, air spaces 37 and 38 (Fig. 2) are formed between the inner and outer plates and between the outer plates and the sides of the housing 10, such air spaces being effective to reduce tothe minimum conduction of heat to thehousing 10, it being noted that the side plates 27 and 35 and 28 and 36 are separated by confronting dimples39 in each plate which are spot welded together to secure the parts in assembly. These dimples 39 constitute the only contact between the inner side plates of the iloating casing and the outer side plates 3S and 36, hence minimizing the amount of heat transference.

The floating casing is held in the shell 10 by means of a bracket 40 (Fig. 3) which, is welded to the rear wall of the said shell 10 at a point spaced above the bottom floating casing in the housing, the former is positioned soy that its flanges 42 will slide upwardly into the clips 43, whereupon the lower end of the floating casing is moved inwardly to bring into register the holes in the bracket 40 and in the rear plate 13. The screw 41 is then inserted into these holes.

It is noted that the three points of contact between the lloating casing and housing are at the bracket 40 and the two clips 43 and connecting llanges 42. This reduces to a minimum the transference of heat to the housing 10 and the surrounding area.

The opposing inner plates 27 and 28 of the lloating casing each has its lower end turned inwardly at right angles to form shelves or supports 44 for a radiant generally indicated by reference numeral 45 in Fig. 2. Below the radiant 45 is a burner 46.

While the radiant 4S is not a part of the present invention, its particular construction is such as to contribute to the performance of the heater by virtue of the horizontal, vertically spaced ribs 47 which are struck out from the inclined side 48 of the radiant and the openings 49 in the ends 50 thereof. The radiant rests on the supporting llanges 44 of the inner side plates 27 and 28 and is held at its upper portion by wire clips 51 which extend inwardly from each side plate 27 and 28. This radiant constitutes a llue and the air circulating through the louvered openings at the sides and the openings in the ends of the radiant is heated with great rapidity and inlluenced upwardly by the draft created by the duct assembly formed by the plurality of baffles rearwardly and above the radiant 45.

In order to insure separation of the rising heat into uniform streams for issuance through the llues 24 and 25 at equal temperatures, the baille 21 has an extended and downwardly turned rear edge which forms a separator 52 (Fig. 3). It is essential that the edge of this separator 52 be precisely positioned, by adjustment of the baille 21 forwardly or rearwardly, in relation to the radiant 45 and the opening 33 above the inclined baille 32,

otherwise, equal distribution of heat through the ducts or fiues and at equal temperature will not prevail.

As the heated air is forced and drawn upwardly and into the inner ends of the liues 24, 25 and 26, the venturi effect created by the inclined bafiie 32 will induce outside air into the hot air stream through the opening 33 at the top of the inclined baie 33. Not only does the air then drawn into the heater keep the area in front of the baffle 32 comparatively cool but it aids as an admixture with the heated air in breaking up streams of air of greater or lessers temperature and causing the issuance, as stated, of air of uniform temperature.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of of the first flue, horizontal confronting flanges formed on the lower ends of the inner side plates, a radiant supported on the flanges, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined baille secured at its ends to the inner side plates and extending therebetween in front of the radiant, the upper end of the inclined baiiie being spaced below the inner end of the lowest of the horizontal baliies to define an opening through which primary air is induced by and into a hot air stream rising from the radiant for release through the horizontal flues.

2. A space heater as described in claim l in which the topmost Vhorizontally extending baflie is curved -to form a downwardly extending rearward portion spaced the appended claims is Within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a space heater, the combination of a shell, a fioating casing in the shell comprising inner and outer parallel side plates spaced upwardly from the bottom of the shell and connected in spaced relation to each other, inner and outer parallel rear walls connected to the inner and outer side plates, respectively, in spaced relation to each other, the rear walls being inclined upwardly and forwardly from their lower ends and being curved intermediate their ends to form forwardly extending horizontal portions terminating at the front ofthe shell and defining a first horizontal flue, a plurality of horizontally extending baffles connected at their ends to the inner side plates in spaced relation to each other and defining horizontal flues belowl the first flue, the baies being progressively shorter from the topmost to the lowermost baliie and each havingone edge aligned with the forward edges inwardly from the inner end of the horizontal baliie positioned immediately below it.

3. A space heater as described in claim 1 in which the inner rear wall of the oating casing extends downwardly below the outer rear wall and is removably connected to a bracket on the rear wall of the shell intermediate its side Walls, the shell having a spring clip on eachof its side walls adjacent its top and in confronting relationship, the outer side plates of the floating casing each having a right angle flange thereon slidably engaging one o f the spring clips to hold the upper portions of the floating casing and the shell in secure relationship.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

